Bobby Hutcherson – San Francisco

Welcome to ISC HiFi. Explore new records daily from our growing collection of classics and rarities from around the world. Discover the stories behind the records. Experience the ISC listening space from home through our (( ROOM RECORDING )) audio player below.
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One of our many favorites from the legendary Oakland-based label Black Jazz, double bassist Henry Franklin’s The Skipper At Home takes off right where his solo debut The Skipper left off with six powerful and energetic soul-jazz pieces in the vein of Donald Byrd’s early 70’s recordings (Ethiopian Knights, Fancy Free, Kofi). Franklin’s distinctive bass tone shines at the forefront as he employs a range of playing styles including a sharp, percussive attack that cuts through the mix like a knife on opener “Blue Lights” and keeps the music pulsing forward. Our personal favorite “Soft Spirit” shows off a more melodic side to Franklin with drummer Leon “Ndugu” Chancelor providing a perfect dream-like atmosphere through beautifully restrained playing in combination with sparkling chimes. Like many of the great Black Jazz releases, The Skipper At Home would later be sampled in hip-hop records including A Tribe Called Quest’s 1996 album Beats, Rhymes and Life.
– Phil Cho
Recommended – A1 Blue Lights, A3 Soft Spirit
A1 Blue Lights
A2 What Was
A3 Soft Spirit
B1 The Magic Boy
B2 Venus Fly Trap
B3 Waltz For Boobuss
Bass, Leader – Henry Franklin (Nyimbo)
Drums – Ndugu (Leon Chancelor)
Graphics – Grafica, Chicago
Guitar – Kenny Climas
Lacquer Cut By – BB
Liner Notes – Amani Nyimbo*, Shirley Ray Reid
Photography By [Cover] – Bruce Wilson (5)
Producer – Gene Russell
Soprano Saxophone – Kemang Sunduza (Bill Henderson)
Tenor Saxophone – Charles Owens
Trombone – Al Hall, Jr.
Trumpet – Oscar Brashear (Cache)